GRAND RAPIDS ? US Signal has lit up its fiber optic network in Wisconsin and Illinois. Initial points of presence include Milwaukee, Madison and Rockford, Ill. ? all of which went live Aug. 1.
US Signal said the Rockford metro ring was turned up ahead of schedule, due to continued strong demand in the region. The company said it will activate Madison several months ahead of schedule and continue lighting additional key locations in the Milwaukee metropolitan area during the remainder of this year.
Other locations scheduled for service this year include Madison ? Sept. 1, Des Plaines, Ill.- September 12, Milwaukee ? December 31.
?We are very pleased to have key portions of our Wisconsin and Illinois fiber now activated, with more high-demand locations to follow in the months to come,? said US Signal president, Barry Raterink. ?We continue to experience strong, consistent demand throughout these underserved markets, and we have worked hard to ensure we stay on or ahead of schedule in turning up services to address the needs of our customers.?
US Signal will activate over 500 new route miles across the two states in 2005, giving the Company nearly 600 miles of fiber optic metro rings around 14 high-growth cities and nearly 3,000 route miles of long-haul fiber connecting first-, second- and third-tier markets in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. The US Signal network, the largest in the Midwest, will provide nearly 80 on-off ramps, comprised of major carrier hotel locations and incumbent telephone company central offices.
